A few weeks ago we asked you to list questions that you have about the Christian faith, and did we get alot of questions! Questions are a very good thing, and each week we'll try to provide our best response to them.
We invite you to post your thoughts about what has been said, and feel very free to see things differently or follow-up with some thoughts of your own. Discussion is a very good thing too.
This week's question is; "Why Did Jesus Have to Die On A Cross?"
I'll try to answer this question in two parts: First of all, we know that it was Jesus' mission to die for us (Matthew 20:28) so that our sins (what we've done wrong) would be able to be forgiven.
The fact that Jesus died on a cross had more to do with when he lived, where he lived, who ruled his country, and who put him to death. The Roman Empire ruled Jesus' country at the time and crucifixion (death on a cross) was their method of killing people they considered to be the worst criminals. The cross was considered the most terrible form of death and public humiliation so the Romans used this as a way of keeping people in line. Even though Jesus was found innocent of breaking the law, the Romans still had him killed in this terrible way.
Secondly it should be understood that Jesus' death on a cross was also God's way of showing how very much he loves us. From the very beginning of the Bible it was predicted that God's Son would come and rescue us from our sin. It was also understood that God's Son would suffer and die in the rescue. Not only would God's Son suffer but he would be publically humiliated, and suffer great shame. Read Psalm 22 and note all the amazing similarities to Jesus' death (and written about 1,000 years before Jesus was born!). Jesus was suppost to die in a manner that was so shameful and painful that it would be obvious that only God's love for us would have allowed it to happen this way.
Well, what are your thoughts? Did this help, or just create a few more questions? Let me know.
Comments
John - November 9, 2005 3:46 pm
I hope you will answer our question about god and the burrito chris.
Jeff McGuigan - November 9, 2005 3:46 pm
Also the possiblity of an alien Jesus.
cHrIS - November 9, 2005 4:57 pm
Amazingly, I thought I would answer the more serious questions first, and eventually get to the burrito.
Jeff McGuigan - November 9, 2005 11:51 pm
The burrito one is actually a very serious, puzzling question. Could God actually out God himself. You could word it in a more serious tone such as; "Could god make a stone so big that he himeself could not lift it?".
John - November 10, 2005 12:15 am
Yeah the burrito was just an example like Jeff said.
cHrIS - November 10, 2005 10:20 am
I'll have to give more thought to that now that you've put it that way. I'll move that question up closer to the top of the list.
katelyn coffin - January 4, 2006 12:54 am
Hi guys
My answer would be this:
That Jesus is a neat guy and is a friend to everyone that he touches in their hearts inside and outside.
Katie
diana sanchez - March 15, 2006 4:11 pm
hello I think jesus die for use for our sins